Conflict between producers and artists
When prosecuted and temporarily detained, Director Ngoc Viet Education testified, "I did not reach an agreement to pay 50% before the show as I did and 50% after the show. Payment is one of my major mistakes".
Previously, on December 30, musician Vu Quang Trung - Music Director of the Come here four birds of the sky program also posted on his personal page a long article revolving around the music night scheduled to take place on the evening of December 28 being suddenly canceled.
In the sharing content, Mr. Trung gave 3 main reasons leading to the decision of many artists to withdraw from the show.
The first reason is said to be related to copyright fees. The works of musicians Trinh Cong Son and Van Cao have not paid copyright fees, so they are "not allowed to perform". The copyright company has sent official emails to the artists.
The second reason relates to the producer's delay in paying cat-xe to artists. Mr. Trung said, "The 50% deposit of the producer has been delayed by more than 10 days compared to the commitment in the contract. The second payment continues not to be made on time, despite being reminded many times.
Currently, on social networks, text messages are spreading rapidly, believed to be between representatives of producer Ngoc Viet show and musician Vu Quang Trung. The text message content revolves around representatives of Ngoc Viet show delaying the remaining cat-xe amount, asking to be paid later, but the musician's side resolutely refused and decided to quit the show.
The content of this message is not confirmed whether it is real or not, but it has led to countless controversies. In which, a big question is raised, where is the responsibility of artists when thousands of audiences are mistreated?
Abuse
The word ill-treatment is interpreted, "to refer to acts of treating others badly, disrespecting or causing spiritual/material harm to others". In the music night "Coming to the Four Heavens", to make thousands of audiences feel abandoned, deceived, that is a kind of ill-treatment.
The biggest responsibility naturally belongs to the producer. Poor financial capacity, poor risk management ability... In which, "knowing in advance that the show cannot take place, still intentionally concealing it to sell tickets to collect money, even lying to functional agencies, that is a sign of fraud" - according to Lawyer Hoang Ha (Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association) analyzing.
However, for thousands of spectators, including the elderly, a large number of spectators from distant provinces, even flying back from Japan... to have to leave like "a trick", are artists completely innocent?
Talking to Lao Dong reporters, a representative of a unit specializing in organizing major music nights in Hanoi said, "paying copyright fees for works is completely possible after the show. It is not necessary to pay before the show. This is a civil agreement.
The copyright center has no authority to ban performances. The licensing of performances and performance bans belongs to the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, the Department of Performing Arts. When there is an email from the copyright center about works performed in the program that have not paid copyright fees - that is not a "permission ban order". It is just a reminder warning. That the songs you sing in this show have not paid copyright fees, and need to be paid. With this, producers can work with the copyright center, ask to postpone the deadline for paying copyright fees after the performance, and commit to implementing it, and that's it. I don't think late copyright payment can cause a large-scale performance to be canceled" - a representative of the performance organizing unit shared.
Also according to this representative, for most performance contracts that they sign with artists today, there are very clear clauses on cat-xe: receiving 50% before the show, and 50% after the show (about 10 days after the show).
Usually, after signing the performance contract, 7 days later we will transfer 50% of the cat-xe to the artists. The cat-xe price depending on each program will have its own level. When 50% of the cat-xe is received, the artists will complete the practice, harmony, arrangement, music matching, stage matching, performance... and receive the remaining 50% of the cat-xe about 10 days after the show" - a representative of the performing company said.
Reporters are consulted on some performance contract templates.
However, paying a fee of 50% or 100% sometimes depends on the reputation and brand of the producer. Artists can request a 100% show payment if they do not feel confident in the producer's ability to pay. This is a legitimate request of artists, when they have put in effort, labor, and practice.
However, I still think that close to performance time is a particularly important time. If you really think about thousands of audiences who have bought tickets and waited, artists need to "number up" faster, have more professional decisions, and put the interests of the audience first.
I would like to give an example, if you feel uneasy about the producer's ability to pay after the show (fear of being ripped off), artists can rely on functional agencies present at the general rehearsal such as the Department of Performing Arts, Department of Culture and Sports, ask them to testify, and then ask Director Ngoc Viet to write a commitment letter about what day and how long the remaining cat-xe will be paid... That may be one way.
How to quit shows - is the worst option, needs to be carefully considered, because it can affect the reputation of the entire performing arts industry. Especially, it is an important time decision such as, close to performance time" - said the representative of the organizing unit.
Public opinion is divided with many opposing opinions. One side argues that all responsibility belongs to the production unit. Artists also need cat-xe like other jobs that need salary. When the producer does not fulfill the contract correctly, artists have the right to cancel shows. On the other side, many questions are raised for artists, what do they think when they see thousands of audiences having to go home disappointed?
In Korea, when the performing arts industry boomed, they built a facility that placed the audience in the center. The rights of the audience are the most important. Kpop idol singers determined that there is no audience - no artist.
The performing industry in Vietnam is forming and rising strongly with a series of large-scale concerts continuously being organized. The performance organization process aims to professionalize.
However, when the Come Here four birds of heaven show "failed" it was revealed that the audience was almost not protected. Producers and artists mentioned the phrase "audience" many times - but the main purpose was to explain their difficulties. On the contracts, no one had to commit, had to take responsibility to the end for the rights of the audience.
Lawyer Hoang Ha said, "if the audience sues, it will be an extremely tiring and arduous journey.
